But I think the lack of income tax is overrated. We have no income tax in Washington State, but the other taxes more than make up for it. In some ways, an income tax is preferable because you know where it is going to be and can plan for it. Sales tax, fees, and the like are harder to avoid.

I agree completely. We have no state income tax in Tennessee (although there is some income tax on certain investments, etc. but it doesn't apply to me), but our sales tax is 9.25% in my county (8.25% on food), and our property taxes in my city are extremely high as well, and they seem to go up considerably every other year. I wouldn't mind paying the property taxes if I felt that I was getting something for it, but we're not. Our schools here are terrible, the roads suck, I have to pay for my own garbage, and recently they tacked on a $22 charge per month on to my power bill for fire department service. That's a sneaky charge that's a tax but disguised as something else.

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